Jointed coastsb



F. A. CHURCH.

JOINTED COASTER TRAIN.

APPLICATION man um. 22, |921,

ffm. 7M;

I; ,W W. fr, l

Patented Oct. 10, 1922.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK A. CHURCH, OF VENICE, CALIFORNIA.

J'OINTED COASTJEFJ TRAIN.

Application led January 22, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, FanDnRIoK CHURCH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Venice, county of Los `Angeles, State of California, haveinventedy a new and useful Jointed Coaster Train, of which the followingis a specification. n

My invention relates to amusement de vices, being more particularly atrain used for carrying passengers on coasterrailways.

The invention consists generally in a train for coaster railwaysformedof a number of cars, each car, with the exception of the last car in thetrain, having but a single pair of supporting wheels at its forward end,the rear end or seat portion of each car extending over the forward endof the next succeeding car and being connected at such eX- tendedportion to the succeeding car by a form of joint which will allow anundulating movement of the train, both vertically `and horizontally orcombinations of both.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a train of thecharacter described of simple. form and construction having a largeseating capacity.

. Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter from thefollowing specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a train embodying a form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a train on an enlarged scaleshowing several of the cars.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in sectiony Fig. 5 isv across-sectional view on line,

.5*5, nigga Fig. 6 1s an enlarged vertical sectional view of thecoupling device shown in Fig. 4. The train consists of a number of cars11 which are identical in construction, such cars being the intermediatecars of the fplained. Each car 11. consists `of a Hoor 15, a fronttrain, the forward or first car 12 and the rear car 13 being of aslightly different construction as is hereinafter more fully exwall16`and a rear wall 17, the walls 16 and 17 being firmly secured to thefloor and con- Serial No. 439,102.

plates or boards 20 which are connected at their rear ends by atransversely disposed board or plate 21. Fory the purpose ofstrengthening the rearward extension, just referred to, a longitudinallyextending plank orplate 22 and a longitudinally extending timber or rail23 are firmly secured to the seat board or plate 21.

Secured to the seat board 21, the plank 22 and the timber 23 by means ofsuitable bolts 24 is a steel plate 25 having formed thereon a downwardlydepending semi-circular ball member 26 which is seated in a seat orsocket 27 formed in a heavy angle iron 2S`mounted on the front wall 16of the car. A king pin or bolt 30 extends through the board 21, theplate 22 and the timber 23, thence through an opening 31 formed in theball member and through a timber or plate 32 on the underside of thefiange 33 of the angle iron 28, such bolt being provided at its lowerend with a nut 34,l and a washer 35 a coiled spring 36 being interposedbetween such washer 35 and the plate 32. This connection just describedbetween the rear vof one car and the forward end of the next car is ofsuch character as to permit the cars to accommodate the trac-lt uponwhich the train operates. l

Mounted upon the seat board 21 is a saddle indicated at 38, such saddlebeing designed to accommodate a-person seated in therear portionindicated at 39, the legs of such person extending to the floor on eachside of the forward end 40 of the saddle, such forward end 40 thenbeingfreeto accommodate a person seated directly in front of the personoccupying the rear portion 39.

The supporting wheels of each car, in-

dicated at 42 withthe exception of the last car, are arranged one oneach side of the forward end of the car being `iournaled on kaxlesindicated at 43 and such `wheels being so disposed that they are underthe to plates or boards 2O of the next car ahea such top plates orboards extending outwardly or beyond the side walls of the` car. Thelast car is provided with two sets of vwheels `42, one set at theforward end, and

one set at the rear end of such car.

wheels 42 run upon the tracks of the ion 35 connection of cars thereto.

coaster, indicated at 44, such tracks being formed of timbers, the uppertimber being faced with an iron plate indicated at 45. Guard railsareprovided for the cars which consist of longitudinally extendingboards 47 which are secured to angle irons 48 mounted upon the floor ofthe car.

Safety devices are provided for the train which consist of pivotallymounted dogs 5() mounted upon the floor of each car, suchdogsbeingarranged to engage racks mounted on the inclined portions ofthe railway, as is usually done. v 4

For the purposeof insuring safety, a

superstructure is provided for each car which consists of vertical rods52 connected by horizontal rods 53 forming a railing. The passengersenter and leave the car between the forward end vof the railing of thecar occupied and the rear portion of railing of the car ahead.-

y The first car in the train, indicated at 12, is substantiallyidentical in construction with the ,cars indicated at 11 with theexception that nol provision` is made'at the for ward end of such carfor the connection of any car thereto. However, itis connected to theforward end of the first car 11 in the same manner as the cars 11 areconnected to l each other.` The last car indicated at 13, is

connected at its forward end to the next car 11 in the same manner asthe other cars 11 are connected toveach other. No'provr sion is made therear end of car 13 for the The car 13 is provided with yielding bumpersindicated at 55 formed of heavy, flat, spiral springs .which areprovided for the purpose of taking up the shock inthe event of rear endcol lision.

For the purpose of insuring that the cars will not become detached fromeach other in the .case of accidents to the coupling between the cars, Ihave provided shortchains, indi- `cated at 56, connected to eyes,indicated at ,57, mounted in the rear and in the forward end of therespective cars, it being understood that such chains are loose enoughto permit freemovement of the'cars' :withre lation to each other and donot effect in any manner the operation of the train under" normalconditions. l It is to be' understood that the trainheretofore described'travels of its'` own momntum after thefinitial start, comm-only provided in coaster railways,` andthat such train Y travels over ancundulatingtrack having' various curves formed therein.

"lne'ction'between the'cars, above `described, GQ permits the train toaccommodate itself to fthe track, and, duefto the fact that eachI car'exceptthe last has but oneset of wheels,l the i friction islgreatlyreduced overl that type """of carin whicha double set `orfmdre of wheelsare used.

` Further, by the arrangement of the seats or saddles shownv anddescribed thev cars may l. A coaster' train comprising a Series 0f cars,supporting wheels at one endof each car, and means for supporting theother end of each car on the wheel supportedend of r,

'the next car, said supporting means consisting of a socket mountedonthewheel supported end of one car, a ball member on the rear end ofthe next car mounted above and seated insaid socket, and means formovably retaining said ball member in said socket.

2, -A series of cars for a coaster train each having wheelsy at theirforward end, and a ,ball` and socket connection between the rear end ofone car and the front end of the next car whereby the, rear end of onecar extends over'and is movablysupported by said ball n and socketconnection on the front end of thenext car. i

having supporting wheels at their forward end,`a seatpportion extendingrearwardly from each car over thev forward endof the 3.V A series ofcars for a coaster train each l next car and ball and socket means :forconnecting and supporting the seat portion of one car cn the forward endof the next car.

4. Aseries Jof cars fora coaster train each having supporting wheels attheir forward end, a seat portion extending rearwardly from eachcar overthe forward end ofthe next car, a supporting socket member mounted onthe forwardend of each car, and a ball member onthe seat member of eachcar seated andsupported 'in' thesocket member` of the next car, andmeans forv connecting the associated ball and socket members.

5. A series of carsfo'ra coaster train each having supporting wheels attheir forward end, aV seatfportion extending rearwardly from eachcarover the'forward end' of the next car, a? supporting socket membermounted on theforwardend'of each car,` aball y member on the seat membersupperted'and The y'onseated in the socket membensaidball inem-,fl`

berand socket member each having an opening, therethrough, a boltmounted inthe seat member extending through the openingsl in the ballandsocket members, a nuton the Alower endvof the bolt and a springlinterv',

` posed between thenut and socket member.

6. A series of cars for a coaster train each having supporting Wheels atone end, a load receiving portion at the other end, a'nd means forconnecting said cars to support the load receiving portion of each earon the Wheeled end of the next car.

7. A coaster train comprising a series of cars each provided withsupporting Wheels at one end, a load carrying portion on each caroverhanging the next car, and means for pivotally connecting theoverhanging portion of each car, to the next car substantially on theaxis of the supporting Wheels on such next car, the car on one end ofsaid train having a set of supporting Wheels at both ends thereof.

8. A series of cars for a coaster train, each car having a seat portionextending beyond the body of the car, supporting Wheels at the other endof the car, and means for connecting the seat portion of one car to theWheeled portion of the next car.

9. A coaster train comprising a series of cars each provided withsupporting Wheels at one end, a load carrying portion on each caroverhanging the next car, and means for pivotally connecting theoverhanging portion of each car to the next car substantially vin theaxis of the supporting Wheels on said next car, such connecting meanscon-` sisting of a ball member on such overhanging portion, a socketmember on the wheeled end of the car arranged to receive the ballmember, and a bolt extending through said ball member and socket member,the car on one end of said train having a set of supporting Wheels atboth ends thereof.

10. A series of cars for a coaster train each having a pair oisupporting Wheels, and means for connecting and distributing the load ofone car on the next car consisting of a supporting cup member on one carand a ball member on the other car above said cup member and supportedtherein.

11. A series of cars for a coaster train each having a pair ofsupporting wheels, and means for connecting and distributing the load ofone car on the next car consisting of a ball member on one car and a cupmember on the other car, one of said members being beloW and supportingthe other member.

12. A series of cars for a coaster train each having a pair ofsupporting Wheels, and means for connecting and distributing the load ofone car on the next car consisting of a supporting cup member on one carand a ball member on the other car above said cup member and supportedtherein, and a king bolt on one car extending through said ball and cupmembers.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 13th day of January, 1921.

FREDERICK A. CHURCH.

